Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-04-17
WORRYING THEM
SOME FOOLISH LETTERS RECEIVED
By the Interstate Commerce Commissioners
More Kicks.
THEY PLEAD WATER COMPETITION
To Escape the Long and Short Haul Clause
Of the Law.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 16.-Quite 8
large percentage of the letters received by
the Interstate Commission are on irrele,
want subjects.
One man asks that the Pennsylvania au-
thorities be prevented from collecting a tax
imposed on him for selling goods by sample
for Eastern manufacturers. Another claims
that unless he gets a lower railroad rate on
his refrigeratOrs he won't be able to make
q profit.
Mr.. II. C. Cummings appeared to-day on
behalf of the Louisville, New Orleans and
Texas and the Newport News and Missls'
sippi Railroad. He stated that both roads
had serious water competition; that he be-
lieyed, under the Interstate law, the
road had a right to charge less Tor q
longer than for q shorter distance, because
dissimilar conditions existed and they
were 80 charging. Ii they were in error,
they wanted 10 be so instructed by the
Commission, and they would then apply
for exemptions from the action Ofthe fourth
clause.
Counsel appeared before the Commission
and asked exemption from the fourth sec
ton for the Wisconsin Central lines OF
railroads.
4 printed petition has been received by
the Commission
FROM THE IOWA BARB STEEL WIRE co,
of Marshalltown, Iowa, stating that up to
| the first of the present month that COM
pany has had an equalized rate "of freight
charges upon its reCeitS and shipments;
that is through rates from Chicago to the
Missouri river, being - cents, the COM
pany has paid Is cents for bringing its
raw material from Chicago to Mar
shalltOwn at 10 cents for transportation OF
its finished product from MarshalltOwn to
Missouri. Under this arrangement 1t has
built up a reasonably profitable business OF
$500, 900 a year, has given employment TO
a large number of mechanics and laborers
and contributed much to local prosperity
by furnishing the home market for farm
ing products. The railroad company, fear
ing the penalties OF the law, and not hav-
ing any decision of the Commission IN
tioning this equalized rate, has now sus-
pended arrangement, aud has made rates
from Chicago to Marshalltown and from
MarshalltOwn to places of consignment Of
the company's goods which are enormously
higher than the rates from Chicago to such
places OF consignment. Is a result OF this
action petitioner must either suffer great
FINANCIAL LOSS, OR SHUT DOWN
its factories and discharge its employees.
The margin in business has for some years
been very close; the company is carrying a
large stock and the season of the greatest
consumption is at hand. The system of
making eQualiZed rates has been customary
in the Northwest and the petitioners case
is represented as similar to that of hun
dreds of other establishments. The petit
toner therefore asks that the system be
sanctioned or the operation Of the law be
suspended until such time rs the subject
can be investigated.
The Commission to-day modified the
order heretofore granted N application of
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company
so rs TO conform with the order made on
the application OF the Southern Railway
and Steamship Association, limiting its
operation to points south of the Ohio river
and to business TO and from such points,
from and to points north OF the Ohio
river. A similar order was also granted
upon the petitions of other railroads south
of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi,
tO-wit: the Illinois Central, st. Louis and
Cairo Short Line, the Tennessee and Ohio,
Norfolk and Western, Richmond, Freder-
icksburg and Potomac, New York, Phila'
delphia and Norfolk, Cape Fear and Yad-
kin valley, Louisville and New Orleans,
and Texas and Newport News, and Missis-
sippi Valley roads. No other cases were
acted upon.